What makes you a Difference Maker?
My work with The Michigan Journal makes me a Difference Maker. I've been on the Journal's editorial staff since 2013 and have been able to do countless things during that time. I was part of and continued an overhaul of our sports section three years ago, which transitioned coverage from Detroit's professional teams to UM-Dearborn athletics and Michigan football. I also pioneered a revamping of the Journal's print edition this year as editor-in-chief, which has featured improved content and a bold front-page design. But most importantly, all of these things have allowed the Journal to get the UM-Dearborn community its news like never before.
Campus Achievements:
During my five years as a UM-Dearborn student, I've been a member of The Michigan Journal, Wolf Pack and WUMD Sports Radio. I've earned an Emerging Leader certificate for my efforts with Wolf Pack in 2013—the organization's final year on campus—and a Leadership Synergy certificate last year with the Journal.
In 2014, I was named Intern of the Year by the UM-Dearborn Humanities/History Internship Department following my summer internship with the Southgate News-Herald/Dearborn Press and Guide. And last year, I won a scholarship from the Society of Professional Journalist's Detroit chapter. I am also a member of UM-Dearborn's chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Leadership Experiences:
I've been involved in leadership roles at UM-Dearborn since my first day of college. I became director of promotions for Wolf Pack in 2011, was promoted to vice president of the organization the following year and then took on new adventures with The Michigan Journal, serving as both sports editor and editor-in-chief in the last three years.
I've also held sports internships with the Southgate News-Herald/Dearborn Press and Guide and MLive.com. I've written sports stories for those publications, as well as The Monroe News, Ionia Sentinel - Standard and SB Nation during my time at UM-Dearborn.
What is your Dream Career?
My dream career would be to cover college/professional football or professional baseball for ESPN, Sports Illustrated or a similar publication/platform. I realize that a goal as lofty as that may not be obtainable or realistic. So, a long-term life goal would be to cover college/professional football or professional baseball for a publication that is the right fit for me. I'd be elated if the right fit happened to be in Michigan. I truly enjoy telling people's stories—I believe everyone has a story and that it is my job to share them, and I want to be able to do just that for a majority of my professional career.
What was your Defining Moment at UM-Dearborn?
My most defining moment at UM-Dearborn would be telling the stories of those individuals whose stories would normally go untold. UM-Dearborn's athletics normally don't receive much media coverage, if any, from surrounding publications. So when I took over as the Journal's sports editor, I wanted to showcase our athletes and programs in ways we had not done previously. Thanks to one of my mentors, Monroe News sports editor Niles Kruger, I was well equipped to be able to do just that. I've told many stories in my time at UM-Dearborn, including those of men's basketball players Dustin Sielski and Brandon Kennedy, the rebirth of the hockey team through Chris Haltinner's first signing day as a coach, the lacrosse team's first signee as a varsity program and lacrosse player Ruben Cabello's move to a new position.